From the Detroit News July 7th 1902:

SHE’S THE PRIDE OF THE RIVER
COLUMBIA OUTSHINES PROMISE, PLEASURE AND OTHER SISTER EXCURISON BOATS.
In Her Is Typified Highest Development – Makes Her Maiden Trip This Evening.

When the Belle Isle and Windsor Ferry Co. brought out the steamer Pleasure 8 years ago, the public gazed at her in admiration and agreed that she was a “whale,” but now she becomes a back number in comparison to the steamer Columbia, which is making her maiden trip this evening. In this boat is seen the highest development of her type on the lakes, and the result of many years of experience, planning and improvement. While the type of the boat traces back to the ferry steamers such as the Fortune and the Victoria, the new boat is so far past this stage of development she is in no sense a ferryboat, but an excursion steamer, designed for a special service- the river run between this city and Bois Blanc.

While beautifully finished, decorated and furnished, the dominant idea in the structure of the boat seems to have been safety and strength. There is more structural iron in her from the main deck up than in any other boat on these waters. The bottom is double throughout the ship, with a clear space between of several feet that can be filled with water for ballast or pumped out as desired. In case a hole was punched in the hull this double bottom would prevent the vessel from sinking as would happen with an ordinary steamer. There are only four passenger steamers on the lakes so equipped. In addition to this the boat is fitted with trimming tanks on either side, from one to another of which hundreds of tons of water may be shifted very rapidly, keeping the vessel on an even keel, no matter what disposition the human cargo may see fit to make of their weight.

THE LAY-OUT
The hull of the boat is 216 feet long by 45 feet beam and 17 feet 6 inches moulded depth. In the extreme bow of the boat are the chain locker and storage room. Back of this is the crew’s mess room and the staterooms for both officers and crew. The rooms for the crew have wire bunks and a separate locker for each man. The officers’ staterooms are tastefully furnished with white enameled iron bedsteads and stationary washstands. A broad staircase leads from the wide hallway between the staterooms to the forward deck overhead.

Aft of the crew’s quarters and separated by a solid watertight steel bulkhead is the machinery space. In the forward part of this compartment are the two big boilers, fitted with Howden draft and aft of this is the engine room. The engine is a beauty, parts not of polished brass or steel are painted pure white. It is a triple expansion 21 1/2 – 34 – 51 x 36” in. stroke, takes steam from the two boilers at 180 pounds and will develop 2000 horse power and easily drive the boat 16 miles per hour. Surrounding the engine on all sides is a bewildering mass of auxiliary machinery. There are the two electric light engines, each with a capacity of 250 lights, the steam steering engine, the blower engine for the Howden draft, and pumps of all sorts and descriptions.

Still further aft is the galley, a huge range and steam carving table on one side of the boat, and pantries and an immense refrigerator on the other side. The latter has a capacity of 500 cubic feet, and an ingenious arrangement whereby the ice lays on the pipes, and while cooling the refrigerator is also cooling drinking water in the pipes. In the extreme stern of the boat is the dining room, a beautiful apartment furnished in antique oak, with a paneled ceiling. The seating capacity is 65.

THE GRAND STAIRWAY
Above the hull, the guards extend out 7 1/2 feet on either side, giving the decks an extreme width of 60 feet. In the center of the forward deck is the grand stairway, leading to the promenade deck, and on either side of the boat, further aft, are two smaller stairways. In the midships section of the boat, on the starboard side, is the men’s cabin, finished in a metallic effect with gilt ceiling and wall panels of a stamped material resembling carved leather. On all sides are wide seats upholstered in leather in keeping with the general color scheme of the room. The woodwork in this room, as in all others excepting the smaller cabin on the hurricane deck - is of mahogany.
Next to the Men’s cabin is the pursers office, finished in similar style. After the purser’s office comes the hospital, and here in case of sickness or accident any physician who happens to be called upon will find a quiet place for his patients and every facility for treating them.

On the opposite side of the boat is the women’s cabin, the handsomest apartment on the boat. The paneled walls are covered with dark green tapestry and the effect is carried out in the ceiling decorations in fresco.
Between the cabins the engine is surrounded with a white panel, waist high, surmounted with a mahogany rail, giving a perfectly open view of the working of the machinery to anyone who might be interested. At the after end of this deck is the buffet, open on three sides and finished in mahogany and white.

LOTS OF ROOM
The grand stairway to the Promenade deck leads into the saloon 80 feet in length by about 40 in width, finished in paneled mahogany wainscoting, surmounted by windows above which are two rows of transoms, the lower in chipped glass, and the upper in leaded art glass. The ceiling is in light and dark olive, decorated with sprays of roses. There is a large deck space in front of the saloon and an ample passageway on both sides of it. Back of the saloon is a grand open deck over 100 feet long by the entire width of the boat, giving an opportunity for dancing such as cannot be approached by any boat that ever ran on the river.
Still above this deck is a third, with a smaller saloon directly over that on the promenade deck. For a space of 15 feet on either side the lifeboat deck is overhead, the balance of the hurricane deck being raised in the center about two feet above the general level. This is the place for those who want to enjoy to the fullest extent the cool breezes and fine view of the river while the lower space on either side, under the lifeboat deck, makes an ideal promenade.

Up, still another story, is the pilothouse 12×16 feet, finished in mahogany, in keeping with the rest of the cabins, and from either side of this extends the bridge. On the roof of the pilothouse, and 45 feet above the water level, is a big brass searchlight.

A unique feature is a portable bandstand, which may be moved to any part of the deck desired.

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